mill

A mill is a device that uses energy to grind, crush, or process materials. Historically, mills relied on water, wind, humans, or animals to power turning machinery. Their primary function has been to convert bulk commodities such as grain, wood, or ore into smaller, usable forms, and the term covers a broad family of machines and facilities used in food production, mining, and manufacturing.

Grain mills, or flour mills, grind cereal grains between rotating stones or through modern roller systems to produce flour or meal. Watermills use flowing water to drive a wheel, turbine, or gearing that powers the milling mechanism. Windmills use wind captured by large sails to rotate a shaft and millstones or rollers. Sawmills cut timber with powered saws and are sometimes classified as mills because they perform a similar mechanical operation on different materials. Other specialized mills include stamp mills for ore crushing and ball or roller mills used in industrial processing.

Historically, mill technology emerged in ancient civilizations and spread across Europe and Asia. Water and wind power were common energy sources in preindustrial societies, enabling large-scale food processing and craft production. The Industrial Revolution introduced steam power, then electricity, expanding milling capacity and enabling new forms of mills and mechanization.

Today, mills remain integral in agriculture, manufacturing, and resource extraction, while many historic mills are preserved as cultural landmarks and tourist sites. The word “mill” may also refer to the place where milling occurs, or to a factory dedicated to milling large quantities of material.